Dear Friends and Family,

I hope 2010 is being good to you. I am hoping I can depend on your support for a very worthy and creditable cause for children and adults in Illinois, across the country and around the world. My purpose is very straight forward: I am going to raise $10,000 for the Illinois Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by running the Chicago Marathon on October 10, 2010 in honor of a very special young lady Samantha Lent. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a national voluntary health agency dedicated to curing blood cancers, as well as improving the quality of life of patients and their families.

I am not alone in this effort. I am a member of the largest endurance-training program in the country, Team In Training (TNT). The mission of TNT is to use endurance events such as marathons, half marathons, 100-mile century bicycle rides and triathlons as a means of support to raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. More than 900,000 TNT athletes have participated in events in the last 20 years. It’s that kind of effort and dedication that helped my decision to support this worthy cause.

The overall survival rates from blood related cancers have tripled over the last ten years; in 1960 there was only a 10-15% survival rate, today there is over an 80-85% survival rate. As terrific as that is, there are still some horrific facts. Leukemia is the leading cause of death in children under the age of 15. Leukemia and lymphoma are also the leading fatal cancers in young men under age 39. We need your help!

A little more than a Year ago Samantha Lent was nearing the end of her senior year at Naperville Central High School, preparing for graduation and making college plans. Everything changed abruptly the morning of March 4, 2009 when Sam visited Edward Hospital pediatric emergency department for what she thought were flu symptoms. Routine testing revealed Sam’s blood counts were off. The doctors told Sam she had leukemia. For a little over one year Sam endured enough pain that most of us will never experience in a lifetime. Thank God for organizations like Team In Training that have raised awareness and money to find a cure for blood cancers. Samantha’s leukemia is in remission, she completed high school by email and is attending North Central College with plans to study abroad in Asia.

I am going to endure aches and pains during my training, and it is certainly always a battle getting to the finish line. However, clearly, it could never compare to the battles and challenges blood cancer patients face everyday. But, you and I can share in the pride of caring and giving to those affected by these diseases and their families.

Join my team and me in the fight against blood cancer by donating today. Please be generous and contribute any amount you can, $5, $25, $50, $100 or more (check and see if your company will match your donation). If you can donate by September 1,2010 I would really appreciate it. Every donation counts and improves the survival rates and gets us closer to a cure

Please, please think about this for a few seconds and consider helping me fight blood cancer because there are thousands of new cases of this disease every week. Think about if you knew that in the future your donation would prevent a loved one from hearing a diagnosis that means cancer? Please write a check payable to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and mail it to my home address at 1763 Napoleon Drive Naperville, IL 60565.

Or you can use the link in this email to donate quickly and securely plus learn more about my progress. You will receive a confirmation of your donation by email and I will be notified as soon as you make your donation.

http://pages.teamintraining.org/il/chicago10/ravena

For me…..this marathon is one day

For blood cancer patients…treatment is a marathon everyday

For you…..your giving last a lifetime

On behalf of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society,thank you very much for your support.Samantha and I greatly appreciate your generosity.

“Let’s Rock This Bitch”

Sincerely,

Rich Avena